Control method for information apparatus and computer-readable recording medium

• US 9,569,081 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2014
• Issued: 02/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Corporation of America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Corporation of America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Sasaki, Takamitsu, Naito, Eiichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Bahta, Kidest
• Application Number:
  US14/165,767
• Publication Number:
  US 20140236358A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,113 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47H 2005/025 controlled by electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A47H 5/02 Devices for opening and closing curtains
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/485 Sectional doors
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/32 Operating, guiding, or securing devices therefor operation of tilting bars E06B9/307
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/30 User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/40 Remote control systems using repeaters, converters, gateways
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/50 Receiving or transmitting feedback, e.g. replies, status updates, acknowledgements, from the controlled devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications

Abstract

A control method according to the present disclosure causes a computer of an information apparatus to: display a display screen on the touch panel display, the display screen representing a floor plan of a building; display device icons representing target devices on the display screen representing the floor plan, the device icons including an icon representing an electric curtain device capable of opening and closing a curtain through a remote operation; display an operation screen including an image representing the curtain of the electric curtain device as overlapped on the display screen representing the floor plan, when selection of the icon representing the electric curtain device is sensed; and output a first open control command to the network when a pinch-out operation is sensed on the operation screen, the first open control command being for opening the curtain of the electric curtain device corresponding to the selected icon.

Claims

1. A control method for an information apparatus having a touch panel display and being connected to a network, one or more target devices being controlled over the network, the control method causing a computer of the information apparatus to:

display a display screen on the touch panel display, the display screen representing a floor plan of a building;

display device icons representing the one or more target devices on the display screen representing the floor plan, the device icons including an icon representing an electric curtain device that is capable of opening or closing a curtain through a remote operation;

display an operation screen including a curtain image representing the curtain of the electric curtain device, on the display screen representing the floor plan, when selection of the icon representing the electric curtain device, among the one or more target devices, is sensed; and

output a first open control command to the network when a pinch-out operation is sensed on the curtain image included in the operation screen, the first open control command being for opening the curtain of the electric curtain device corresponding to the selected icon.

2. The control method according to claim 1, wherein

when the pinch-out operation is sensed on the curtain image representing the curtain of the electric curtain device included in the operation screen, display of the curtain image included in the operation screen is varied from a first image, in which the curtain of the electric curtain device is closed, to a second image, in which the curtain of the electric curtain device is opened, the second image including a lace curtain image representing a lace curtain of an electric lace curtain device that is capable of opening or closing the lace curtain through a remote operation.

3. The control method according to claim 2, wherein

a second open control command is output to the network when a second pinch-out operation is sensed on the second image included in the operation screen, the second open control command being for opening the lace curtain of the electric lace curtain device corresponding to the lace curtain image representing the lace curtain of the electric lace curtain device included in the second image.

4. The control method according to claim 3, wherein

a region corresponding to the lace curtain image representing the lace curtain of the electric lace curtain device included in the second image is varied to an image in which the lace curtain of the electric lace curtain device is opened, when the second pinch-out operation is sensed on the second image included in the operation screen.

5. The control method according to claim 1, wherein

display of the curtain image displayed in the operation screen is varied from a first image, in which the curtain of the electric curtain device is closed, to a second image, in which the curtain of the electric curtain device is opened, when the pinch-out operation is sensed on the curtain image included in the operation screen, and

a first close control command is output to the network when a pinch-in operation is sensed on the curtain image included in the operation screen, the first close control command being for closing the curtain of the electric curtain device corresponding to the second image in which the curtain of the electric curtain device is opened.

6. The control method according to claim 5, wherein

the second image in which the curtain of the electric curtain device is opened, is varied to the first image in which the curtain of the electric curtain device is closed, when the pinch-in operation is sensed on the curtain image included in the operation screen.

7. The control method according to claim 1, wherein

a width control command is output to the network as the first open control command when the pinch-out operation is sensed on the curtain image included in the operation screen, the width control command instructing width of moving the curtain of the electric curtain device corresponding to the selected icon, the width of moving the curtain of the electric curtain device being determined in accordance with an operation width of the pinch-out operation.

10. The control method according to claim 1, wherein

the device icons representing the one or more target devices are moved out of a display region of the display screen representing the floor plan, when selection of the icon representing the electric curtain device, among the one or more target devices, is sensed.

11. The control method according to claim 1, wherein

the device icons representing the one or more target devices are moved out of a display region of the display screen representing the floor plan, and are arranged in one line outside the display region of the display screen, when selection of the icon representing the electric curtain device, among the one or more target devices, is sensed.

12. The control method according to claim 1, wherein

the device icons representing the one or more target devices are moved out of a display region of the display screen representing the floor plan, and are arranged in one line outside the display region of the display screen, when selection of the icon representing the electric curtain device, among the one or more target devices, is sensed, and

the device icons representing the one or more target devices arranged in one line are moved in a direction of the line to display the selected icon within a display region of the display.

13. The control method according to claim 1, wherein

the electric curtain device includes an electric blind device capable of opening or closing a blind through a remote operation.

8. A control method for an information apparatus having a touch panel display and being connected to a network, one or more target devices being controlled over the network, the control method causing a computer of the information apparatus to:

display a display screen on the touch panel display, the display screen representing a floor plan of a building;

display device icons representing the one or more target devices on the display screen representing the floor plan, the device icons including an icon representing an electric curtain device that is capable of opening or closing a curtain through a remote operation;

display an operation screen including a curtain image representing the curtain of the electric curtain device on the display screen representing the floor plan, when selection of the icon representing the electric curtain device, among the one or more target devices, is sensed; and

output a first close control command to the network when a pinch-in operation is sensed on the curtain image included in the operation screen, the first close control command being for closing the curtain of the electric curtain device corresponding to the selected icon.

9. The control method according to claim 8, wherein

a width control command is output to the network as the first close control command when the pinch-in operation is sensed on the curtain image included in the operation screen, the width control command instructing width of moving the curtain of the electric curtain device corresponding to the selected icon, the width of moving the curtain of the electric curtain device being determined in accordance with an operation width of the pinch-in operation.

14. A control method for an information apparatus having a touch panel display and being connected to a network, one or more target devices being controlled over the network, the control method causing a computer of the information apparatus to:

display a display screen representing a floor plan of a building on the touch panel display, the floor plan represented by the display screen including a curtain image representing a curtain of an electric curtain device that is capable of opening or closing the curtain through a remote operation; and

output a third open control command to the network when a pinch-out operation is sensed in a region corresponding to the curtain image representing the curtain of the electric curtain device, the third open control command being for opening the curtain of the corresponding electric curtain device.

15. The control method according to claim 14, wherein

the region corresponding to the curtain image representing the curtain of the electric curtain device is varied to an open image in which the curtain of the electric curtain device is opened, when the pinch-out operation is sensed in the region corresponding to the curtain image representing the curtain of the electric curtain device included in the floor plan represented by the display screen.

16. The control method according to claim 15, wherein

the floor plan represented by the display screen includes a lace curtain image representing a lace curtain of an electric lace curtain device that is capable of opening or closing the lace curtain through a remote operation, and

a fourth open control command is output to the network when a second pinch-out operation is sensed in a region corresponding to the lace curtain image representing the lace curtain of the electric lace curtain device included in the floor plan represented by the display screen on the touch panel display, the fourth open control command being for opening the lace curtain of the corresponding electric lace curtain device.

17. The control method according to claim 16, wherein

when the second pinch-out operation is sensed in the region corresponding to the image representing the lace curtain of the electric lace curtain device on the touch panel display, the corresponding region is varied to an image in which the lace curtain of the electric lace curtain device is opened.

18. The control method according to claim 14, wherein

the region corresponding to the curtain image representing the curtain of the electric curtain device is varied to an open image in which the curtain of the electric curtain device is opened, when the pinch-out operation is sensed in the region corresponding to the curtain image representing the curtain of the electric curtain device, and

a third close control command is output to the network, when a pinch-in operation is sensed in a region corresponding to the open image in which the curtain of the electric curtain device is opened, the third close control command being for closing the curtain of the corresponding electric curtain device.

19. The control method according to claim 18, wherein

the open image in which the curtain of the electric curtain device is opened is varied to a close image in which the curtain of the electric curtain device is closed, when the pinch-in operation is sensed in the region corresponding to the open image in which the curtain of the electric curtain device is opened.

21. The control method according to claim 14, wherein

the electric curtain device includes an electric blind device capable of opening or closing a blind through a remote operation.

20. A control method for an information apparatus having a touch panel display and being connected to a network, one or more target devices being controlled over the network, the control method causing a computer of the information apparatus to:

display a display screen representing a floor plan of a building on the touch panel display, the floor plan represented by the display screen including a curtain image representing a curtain of an electric curtain device that is capable of opening or closing the curtain through a remote operation; and

output a third close control command to the network when a pinch-in operation is sensed in a region corresponding to the curtain image representing the curtain of the electric curtain device, the third close control command being for closing the curtain of the corresponding electric curtain device.

22. A control method for an information apparatus having a touch panel display and being connected to a network, one or more target devices being controlled over the network, the control method causing a computer of the information apparatus to:

display a display screen on the touch panel display, the display screen representing a floor plan of a building;

display device icons representing the one or more target devices on the display screen representing the floor plan, the device icons including an icon representing an electric curtain device that is capable of opening or closing a curtain through a remote operation;

display an operation screen including a curtain image representing the curtain of the electric curtain device on the display screen representing the floor plan, when selection of the icon representing the electric curtain device, among the one or more target devices, is sensed; and

output a movement control command to the network when a swipe operation is sensed on the curtain image included in the operation screen, the movement control command being for moving the curtain of the electric curtain device corresponding to the selected icon in a swipe direction of the swipe operation.

23. The control method according to claim 22, wherein

a distance control command is output to the network as the movement control command when the swipe operation is sensed on the curtain image included in the operation screen, the distance control command instructing distance of moving the curtain of the electric curtain device corresponding to the selected icon in the swipe direction, the distance of moving the curtain of the electric curtain device being determined in accordance with an amount of movement in the swipe direction of the swipe operation.

24. The control method according to claim 22, wherein

movement of the curtain of the electric curtain device corresponding to the selected icon is movement to open the curtain of the electric curtain device or movement to close the curtain of the electric curtain device.

25. The control method according to claim 22, wherein

the electric curtain device corresponding to the selected icon has a curtain which opens or closes in one direction.

26. The control method according to claim 25, wherein

the electric curtain device corresponding to the selected icon includes an electric roll screen device, the electric roll screen device having a roll screen which opens or closes in one direction, as the curtain which opens or closes in one direction.

27. The control method according to claim 25, wherein

the electric curtain device corresponding to the selected icon includes an electric blind device, the electric blind device having a blind which opens or closes in one direction, as the curtain which opens or closes in one direction.

28. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium which stores a program to be executed by an information apparatus having a touch panel display and being connected to a network, one or more target devices being controlled over the network, the program causing a computer of the information apparatus to:

display a display screen on the touch panel display, the display screen representing a floor plan of a building;

display device icons representing the one or more target devices on the display screen representing the floor plan, the device icons including an icon representing an electric curtain device that is capable of opening or closing a curtain through a remote operation;

display an operation screen including a curtain image representing the curtain of the electric curtain device on the display screen representing the floor plan, when selection of the icon representing the electric curtain device, among the one or more target devices, is sensed; and

output a first open control command to the network when a pinch-out operation is sensed on the curtain image included in the operation screen, the first open control command being for opening the curtain of the electric curtain device corresponding to the selected icon.

29. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium which stores a program to be executed by an information apparatus having a touch panel display and being connected to a network, one or more target devices being controlled over the network, the program causing a computer of the information apparatus to:

display a display screen on the touch panel display, the display screen representing a floor plan of a building;

display device icons representing the one or more target devices on the display screen representing the floor plan, the device icons including an icon representing an electric curtain device that is capable of opening or closing a curtain through a remote operation;

display an operation screen including a curtain image representing the curtain of the electric curtain device on the display screen representing the floor plan, when selection of the icon representing the electric curtain device, among the one or more target devices, is sensed; and

output a first close control command to the network when a pinch-in operation is sensed on the curtain image included in the operation screen, the first close control command being for closing the curtain of the electric curtain device corresponding to the selected icon.

30. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium which stores a program to be executed by an information apparatus having a touch panel display and being connected to a network, one or more target devices being controlled over the network, the program causing a computer of the information apparatus to:

display a display screen representing a floor plan of a building on the touch panel display, the floor plan represented by the display screen including a curtain image representing a curtain of an electric curtain device that is capable of opening or closing the curtain through a remote operation; and

output a third open control command to the network when a pinch-out operation is sensed in a region corresponding to the curtain image representing the curtain of the electric curtain device, the third open control command being for opening the curtain of the corresponding electric curtain device.

31. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium which stores a program to be executed by an information apparatus having a touch panel display and being connected to a network, one or more target devices being controlled over the network, the program causing a computer of the information apparatus to:

display a display screen representing a floor plan of a building on the touch panel display, the floor plan represented by the display screen including a curtain image representing a curtain of an electric curtain device that is capable of opening or closing the curtain through a remote operation; and

output a third close control command to the network when a pinch-in operation is sensed in a region corresponding to the curtain image representing the curtain of the electric curtain device, the third close control command being for closing the curtain of the corresponding electric curtain device.

32. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium which stores a program to be executed by an information apparatus having a touch panel display and being connected to a network, one or more target devices being controlled over the network, the program causing a computer of the information apparatus to:

display a display screen on the touch panel display, the display screen representing a floor plan of a building;

display device icons representing the one or more target devices on the display screen representing the floor plan, the device icons including an icon representing an electric curtain device that is capable of opening or closing a curtain through a remote operation;

display an operation screen including a curtain image representing the curtain of the electric curtain device on the display screen representing the floor plan, when selection of the icon representing the electric curtain device, among the one or more target devices, is sensed; and

output a movement control command to the network when a swipe operation is sensed on the curtain image included in the operation screen, the movement control command being for moving the curtain of the electric curtain device corresponding to the selected icon in a swipe direction of the swipe operation.